Type-writing machine.



c. P. MOSHER.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. I3. I915.

1 269,20O, Patented June 11, 1918.

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CJP. MOSHER. TYPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13. 1915. l l ,%59,2U@ Patented June 11, 1918.

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CHARLES PHILO KOSHER, OF GROTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CORONA TYPEWRITEE COMPANY, IN'Q, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

3e it known that I, (hmnnes PHILO h'iosnnn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Groton, county of Tompkins, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type- W riting Machines, of which the following is a. full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates more particularly to the key action of visible or front strike typewriting machines, in which the keyboard and platen carriage are brought into close relation when not in use for the purpose of making the machine compact, and is a division of my application Scrial'No. 56,242, filed October '16, 1915."

One of the principal features of the invention is to provide a key action in which an accelerated movement may be imparted to the type-bars and in which each type-bar is operated by an individual key forming a part of a universal or standard. keyboard,

and whi h keys are so supported and connected to the type-bars that a substantially uniform touch is obtained.

Another feature of the invention is to provide simple and efticient means whereby the key-operated levers may be arranged in groups or banks and each lever operatively and individually connected to move a type, and so arranged that all the parts of the key action when in normal operative position are substantially horizontally arranged in order that a minimum amount of space may be required.

A further feature of the invention is to provide a key action wherein a connection may beinade between a type-bar and a keyoperatcd lever in such a way that a quick return movement of the type-bar may be obtained and the said type-bar substantially locked against rebounding.

A still further feature of the invention is to provide simple and etiicient means whereby the ntire key action including the type-bars and support therefor. may be folded with respect to the platen carriage to make the machine compact when not in use for transportation or other purposes,

A still further feature of the invention is Specification of Letters Eatent.

the machine may be shown.

Pawnee time ii, rare.

I Original application filed October 16, 1915, Serial No. 56,242. Divided and this application filed November Serial No. 61,292.

to provide a key action which is so constructedthat it may be readily made and assembled and which is effective in use.

With these and other objects in View, the invention will be hereinafter more particularly described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application, and will. then be pointed out in the claims at theend of the descrip tion.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of one form of the machine embodying the invention, showing the key action and the parts thereof in normal operative position.

Fig. 2 showing the key action with the banks of keys folded relatively toward the platen to ma he the machine compact when not in use; ant.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view broken away centrally thereof so that both sides of While the invention is shown as applied to a typewriting machine in which an inclosing case is employed, it will be under stood that the key action may be employed in other forms or constructions of typewriting machines, or wherein other-parts of the machine are foldable instead of the key action, without changing the nature or scope of the invention.

The casing 10 comprises a main member 11 having sides 12 and a rear wall 13. At the upper end of the wall 13 is pivoted at 14 a cap or cover 15, and at the forward edge of the main member 11 is a foldable member 16 which is pivoted at 17 to the bottom, or base portion of the main member 11, and is adapted to be folded upward against the sides 12 of said main member so that when the cover or top 15 is moved over upon its hinge or pivot 14, a substantially uniform and regular box-like casing is provided as shown best in Fig. 2. The member 16 may be locked in its unfolded or normal operative position by any suitable means to n'iaintain the key action in its proper relation to the platen when in normal operative position. As one means, stays or members 18 may be pivo ed at 19 to lugs on the foldable case member 16, and said stays may be slotted lengthwise thereof as at 20 to fit over the shanks of headed pins 21 arranged upon the inner surface of the sides 12 of the main casing member 11. v The slots 20 of the stays may e curved at their inner free ends so as to lock the member 16 in an open pos1- 'tion, and said stays may be normally forced to a locked position by springs 22 so that when forced against the action of the springs to place the shanks of the pins 21 in line with the straight part of the slots the member 16 may be readily folded with respect to the main member 11.

At the rear portion of the main member 11 and resting against the rear wall 13 is a plate 23 having guide plates or members 24 and 24: secured thereto. These guides 24 and 24 are opposed to each other, and adapted to travel between the members 24 I and 24 is a platen carriage base'or plate not been shown as they form no part of the present invention. The parts as thus described may be of any suitable construction and may be operated in any desired way.

A foldable frame, support, or member 29 is pivotally held on a rod30 which extends 1 between the sides 12 of the main member '11 of the casing 10.. The support 29 is foldable upward and comprises sidemembcrs 31 which may be joined together by a transversely extending bar 32. The side members 31 of thesupport at their inner or rear ends are provided With guides 33 forming a verti cal supporting means for a type basket segment 34. The type basket segment 34 comprises a curved segmental portion 35 having slots 36 for the reception of pivoting ends 37 of the type-bars 38, the said type-bars being arranged in an arc of a circleand pivotally held to a pin or rod 39 in the usual or in any preferred way. The type bars 38 have their heads or blocks 40 each provided with two type characters 4-1 representing the upper case and the lower case type, figures, etc., as in an ordinary typewriter having a single case shift. The typebars are each provided with a lug 42 located at the rear of the pivot and below the same, to which is pivotallyheld, as at 43, one end of a link 44-. The link it is pivoted at its other end, as at 4:5, to the inner end of the arm 46 of a substantially bell-crank shaped lever There is a lever t? for each typeaeaeoo position and extend transversely of the machine between the sides 31 oi the foldable support or member 29. These bell-crank levers at? are arranged in banks or groups,

and as arranged, the links connecting the respective banks of levels to the type-bars are of relatively diflerent lengths, said typebars and links being restored to their normal position by means 015 springs l9, one end of each of which is held to a typebar and the other end to a transversely extending bar or rod 50 or to lugs provided for that purpose if preferred. These springs 49 keep the bellcrank levers and links and type-bars in their normal position so that the blocks 40 normally rest upon a cushion 51 extending transversely of themachine. The cushion 51 is supported by a plate 52, the latter being held to the outer ends of forwardly extending rods 53 when the parts are in their normal operative position. the rods at their inner ends being held to the type-barsegment. Each bell-crank lever has one arm 54 provided with a cam edge 55 which is adapted to be engaged by a similar cam edge 56 on the end or tongue 57 of a keyoperated lever 58. There are a number of key-operated levers 58, one for each typebar 38 and supplemental lever 47, and these key operated levers are pivotally held on rods 59. There are four rods 59. These rods 59 correspond in number to the num ber of rods 4-8, and are vertically disposed under said rods when in normal operative position and extendtransversely of the machine betwcen the side members of the fold able support 29. The key-operated levers are thus arranged in groups or banks, and by reason of the location of the rods 59 each key 60 of each lever 58 will require substantially the same force to depress the same,

thus providing a substantially uniform touch for the machine and permitting a standard or universal keyboard to be employed wherein each key operates a distinct type for printing purposes at each depression. The ends or arms 57 of the key-operated levers 58 extend upwardly, and by reason of the action of the cam edges 56 engaging the cam edges 55 of the bell-crank levers 47, an accelerated movement is imparted to the type-bars which is slow at the initial part of the depression of each key and increases in speed as the depression increases. The links 44: have their ends arranged in a substantially horizontal. position when in normal operative condition, and in practice it is desirable that the said links be disposed as near a direct line with respect to the supporting rods 48 possible, so as to provide a substantially locking action for the links in order to prevent the type-bars from rel'iounding from their cushion after returning from a printing stroke.

The outer end of the toldablc support 29 at each side thereof is connected by a link ($1 to the foldable case member 16. Each link is pivoted at 62 to one of the side members 31 of the support 29 and at 63 to a lug on the case'n'iember 16, the distance between the pivots (i2 and 63 corresponding to the distance between the center of the rod and the hinge 17 to adapt the foldable support :29 when the latches or stays 18 are released to fdld up and to assume the position shown in Fig. 2 wherein the he s. of the levers 58 are brought into close compact relation to the platen 28 of the carriage 2?.

It will be evident that when the support 29 is folded so that the keys of the keyboard are n'iove'd toward the platen 28 as shown in Fig. l, the entire support 29 is located within the sides 12 of the main casing member 11 so that the foldable case member 16 may form a partial closing of the case, said closing being completed when the cover member 15 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, a handle, not shown, being provided at the end of the case or other part thereof if desired for carrying purposes. It will be evident further that all parts mounted upon the foldable support 29 partake of the folding movement of the case member 16, so that not'only the type basket including the type-bars but the entire key action partakes of such folding movement, and that all these parts both in thefolded and unfolded positions remain in the same operative relation and without any disconnection of any kind.

It is to be understood that the key-operated levers may be spaced by a suitable comb and guided in theslots thereof, and that said levels may have spacing tubes or rings located on the fulcrum rods, but as such fea tures are not new it was not thought necessary to illustrate the same.

From the foregoing it will be seen that simple and efiicient means is provided where by each group or bank of key-operated levers may be separately mounted upon independent supports; that said key-operated levers are so connected to individual type-bars that a pull action is given to the type-bars and a substantially uniform touch provided for the keys; that the key-operated levers are so connected to the type-barsthat an accelorated movement is secured in order that a minimum amount of force is required to operate the keys; that the several parts of the key action when in normal operative position are substantially horizontally disposed so that when the type-bars are restored to their norn'ral position, although quickly" they will not reboun 7 in their support by reason of the relation of the opeaitire parts thereto to permit one type-bar to stri a: another w is operating the machine rapidly; andthat parts are simple in ':onstruction and are so arranged that they may readily assembled.

Having thus described thy invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

' l. in a type action, the combination of upwardly and rearwardly jinovable type-bars, a plurality groups oi boll-crank leverspivotally supported beneath and closely adjacent to the typebars, said levers having depending arms and rcarwardly extending arms, a plurality (it'- groups of links pivotally connected at their rear ends with the typebars, the forward ends of the links of each group being pivotally connected with the rearwardly extending arms of one of the groups of bell-crank levers, groups of keyoperated levers having upwardly extending portions supporting. keys in banks and ha ving' horizontal portions of equal lengths extending rearwardly below the typebars, the horizontally extending portions of the levers of each group being pivotally supported below and closely adjacent the cooperating group or bell-crank levers and fcrircd with upwardly extending cam portions adapted to engage cam edges on the depending arms of the bell-crank levers,

In a type action, the con'ibination of upwardly and rearwardly n'iovable t V o-bars, a plurality of supports arranged in parallel relation in substantially the same horizontal plane below and closely adjacent to the typebars, a plurality of bell-crank levers mounted upon each of said supports and each provided with a downwardly extending arm having a'r'ear cam edge, means opcralively connecting the bell-crank lovers to the typebars, a plurality of supports arranged in parallel relation in substantially the same horizontal plane below and closely adjacent to the supports for the bell-crank levers, and key-opo 'ated levers arranged in groups and supporting keys in banks, each key lever being provided with a rcarwardly extending portion pivotally held on one of said lastmentioned supports and formed with an up Wa-rdly extending arm ha ving a forward cam edge adapted to engage the cam edge of one of the bell-crank levers.

3 in a typewriting machine, the combination of a plurality of supports arranged horizontally and in parallel relation, bcllcrank levers mounted upon said supports,"

- ment thereto.

4;. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a plurality of supports arranged horizontally and in parallel relation, bellcrank levers mounted upon said supports, type-bars, links movable under said supports and operatively cc necting the bell-crank levers to the type-bars, a plurality of supports arranged in horieontal relation and parallel with respect to each other below the supports of the bell-crank levers, and key-operated levers pivotally held on said last-mentioned supports in banks and having cam ends to engage the bell-crank levers and impart an accelerated movement thereto.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination of four supporting rods arranged horizontally and in parallel relation, auxiliary levers mounted upon said supports, type, means operatively connecting the auxiliary levers to the type, four supporting rods arranged in horizontal and parallel rela tion-under the first-mentioned rods and the auxiliary levers, and key-operated levers pivotally held on said last-mentioned rods and having cam ends to engage a part of the auxiliary levers and impart an accelerated movement thereto. U

6. lin a typewriting machine, the combination of a support, four rods arranged horizontally and in parallel relation, bellcrank levers pivotally held to said rods and arranged in banks thereon, each bell-crank lever having a rearwardly extending arm and a downwardly extending arm provided with a cam edge, type-bars pivotally held on said support, springs tending normally to force the typehars in one direction, a support for the outer end of said type-bars, a link connecting each type-bar to one of the bell-crank levers, said links of the different banks or groups being of relatively different lengths and arranged in a horizontal position and in a plane forming as near a direct line as possible with the point of pivot of said bell-crank levers, four rods extending transversely of the machine under the bellcrank lever supporting rods and also horizontally arranged, and key-operated levers pivotally held in banks on the second-mentioned rods and having upwardly extending ends provided with cam edges engaging the cam edges of the bell-crank levers and adapted when depressed to impart an accelerated movement to the latter levers and through the links impart a similar movement to the type-bars.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a support, four rods arranged in parallel relation on the support. auxiliary levers pivotally held to said rods and arranged in banks thereon, each auxiliary lever having a cam edge, type-bars pivot-ally held on said support, a link connecting each type-bar to one of the auxiliary levers, said links of the different banks or groups being of relatively difierent lengths, four rods arranged in parallel, relation extending transversely of the machine, and key-operated levers pivotally held in banks on said latter rodsand each having ends provided with a cam edge adapted to engage the cam edge of a bell-crank lever and adapted when depressed to in'ipart an accelerated movement thereto and through a link impart a similar movement to its cooperating type-bar.

8. In a typcwriting machine, the combination of a support, rods arranged in parallel relation, bell-crank levers pivotally held to said rods and arranged in banks thereon, each bell-crank lever having in its normal operative position a rcarwardly extending arm and a downwardly extending arm provided with a cam edge, type-bars pivotally held on said support, a link connecting each type-bar to one of the bell-crank levers, said links of the different banks or groups being of relatively different lengths and arranged in a horizontal position when in a normal operative position, rods extending transverscly of the machine under the bell-crank lever supporting rods and also horizontally arranged when the machine is in a normal operative position, and key-operated levers pivotally held in banks on said second-mentioned rods and each having up 'ardly extending ends provided with a cam' edge adapted to engage the cam edge of a bellcrank lever and impart an accelerated movement to its cooperating type-bar.

9. In a typevs' riting machine, the combination of a plurality of supports horizontally arranged and in parallel relation, bell crank levers mounted upon each of said supports, said levers being each provided with a downwardly extending arm having a rear cam edge, type bars, means operativcly connecting the bell crank levers to the type bars, a plurality of supports arranged in horizontally parallel relation below the supports of the bell crank levers and key operated levers pivotally held on said last mentioned supports, each being pro- 11' vidcd with an upwardly extending arm' having a forward cam edge adapted to engage the cam edge of a coacting bell crank lever, said key operated levers being arranged in banks and adapted to impart movement to the said boll crank levers. 10. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a support, four rods arranged in parallel relation, boll crank levers pivotally hcld on said rods and arranged in banks, each of said hell crank levers being formed with a downwardly extending arm havingn rear cam edge, type bars, links connecting the type bars to the bell crank levers, the links of the difierent banks being nasaaoo of relatively different lengths, four parallel rods extending transversely of the machine adjacent {the bell crank lever, supporting rods and jkey operated levers pivotally held in banks ,on said second mentioned rods each of said y'levers being formed with an upwardly extending arm having a forward cam edge adapted to engage the cam edge of a coacting bell crank lever.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a support, rods arranged in parallel relation, auxiliary levers pivotally held to said rods and arranged in banks thereon, each auxiliary lever having a rearwardly extending arm and a downwardly extending arm, typebars pivotally held on said support, springs normally forcing the type bars in one direction, a support for the outer end of said type bars, a link connecting each type bar to one of the auxiliary levers, said links of the different banks or groups being of relatively different lengths and arranged in a horizontal position, rods extending transversely of the machine under the auxiliary lever supporting rods, and

key operated levers pivotally held in banks on said second mentioned rods, each of said levers being formed with an upwardly extending arm having a forward cam edge adapted to engage the rear edge of the downwardly extending arm of a ooacting auxiliary lever, said arm being adapted to Y operate the said auxiliary lever.

12. In a typewrit'ing machine, ty e bars,

groups of hell crank levers under t e type bars, each of said levers being formed with a downwardly extending arm having a rear cam edge, groups of key operated levers under the bell crank levers horizontally arranged and in close relation to the bell crank levers each of said key operated levers being formed with an upwardl extendin arm having a forward cam e ge adapte to engage the cam edge of a cooperatlng 45 bell crank lever, and links connecting the bell. crank levers to the type bars.

This specification signed this 6th day of November, A. D. 1915.

CHARLES PHILO MOSHER. 

